Analysis of the Economic and Preventive Advantages of the Robotic Technology Use for Construction Sector Workers

Abstract

Exoskeletons are portable external devices that are placed on the user's body with the aim of increasing their capabilities. These can reduce muscle activity in the most affected areas of the body, such as the lower back or shoulders, decreasing the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) using several mechanical principles. The use of the exoskeleton at work not only improves ergonomics and increases the worker's efficiency and performance, but also improves conditions regarding occupational risks. These improvements affect the benefit of production of work costs. The objective of this work is to propose a theoretical analysis of the production costs with the incorporation of the exoskeleton in several construction work units, verifying the economic suitability of this auxiliary equipment. It is proven that the theoretical results obtained imply an improvement in production costs, achieving a reduction in injuries, an increase in productivity, and adaptability to the workplace based on a long-term investment. In addition, it is possible to im- prove the incidence rates of injuries due to physical exertion, due to the dimensions of the work situation, due to temporal aspects, due to environmental factors and due to organizational characteristics. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.